Selection of goats

1. Selection of Goats
Prepared by
Dr Siddhartha S. Pathak, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Livestock Production Management
Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science
Assam Agricultural University, Joyhing, Lakhimpur

2. Contents
• Why goat farming ?
• Where we stand ?
• Why selection ?
• Selection classes
• Selection of bucks
• Judging
• Conclusion
• Take home message

3. Why is goat important ??
• Goats were one of the first domesticated animal.
• Requires less space and additional facilities
• Marketing
• Easy to maintain
• Smaller in size reaches market age faster.
• Changing agro-climatic conditions, goats are ‘Future
Animal’ for prosperity in the country.

4. Where we stand ?
India scenario
(19th Livestock Census-2012)
• Goat population : 135.17 million
• To total livestock population 26.40%
• Rajasthan : 16.03 %
• Assam : 4.56 %

5. Assam scenario
(19th Livestock Census-2012)
• In Assam : 6.16 million
• Change of 46.43 % { 2007 vs 2012}
• Udalguri major contribution of 15.96 %
• Lakhimpur contributes 3.41 %
• Dhemaji 2.31%

6. Why selection ?

7. Selection Classes
SCORING BODY CONFORMATION
199 Highest conformation
150 Middle conformation
100 Lowest conformation

8. Highest conformation
• Superior meat-type conformation Thickly muscled as indicated by
– Pronounced (bulging) outside leg (B. femoris and Semitendinosus)
– Full (rounded) back strip (rib and loin, L. dorsi)
– Moderately thick outside shoulder (T. brachii group)
- ADGA

9. Middle conformation
• Average meat-type conformation Moderately muscled as indicated by
 Slightly thick and slightly pronounced outside leg (B. femoris
and Semitendinosus)
 Slightly full (flat or slightly shallow) back strip (rib and loin,
L. dorsi)
 Slightly thick to slightly thin outside shoulder (T. brachii
group)
- ADGA

10. Lowest conformation
• Inferior meat-type conformation Moderately muscled as indicated by
– Narrow legs, back, shoulders in relation to body length
– Very angular and shrunken appearance
– Deficient muscling in leg, back strip (rib and loin, L. dorsi),
shoulder
- ADGA

11. Comparison
- ADGA

12. Selection of bucks
• Masculinity and adequate muscling.
• The head should be masculine with a broad, strong muzzle
and horns set far apart.
• Bucks must have two large, well-formed, functional, equal-
sized testes in a single scrotum.
• More semen is produced by bucks with greater scrotal
circumference.

13. • Mature bucks should have a scrotum circumference of at least 25
cm or 10 inches.
• In young bucks, testicles should be of equal size and large for day of
age.
• Avoid selecting bucks that show overly Pendulous testicles.
• Testicles should be free of bumps or lumps and should be smooth.
Selection of bucks

14. Judging a caprine
• Structural correctness (Skeleton, feet, legs)
• Muscling (examining loin, rump, quarters)
• Conformation (combination)
• Growth (overall skeletal size and development)
• Balance/symmetry (eye appeal)
• Finish/condition (fat covering the body, BCS)

15. - Courtesy Google

16. Dentition
• Mature goats have 32 teeth of which 24 are molars and 8 are
incisors.
• At 10 year or older, permanent teeth will fall out.
• An animal that has its jaws misaligned, or teeth missing may not be
as efficient in grazing.
• Deciduous Teeth Dental Formula:
2(Di 0/4; Dc 0/0; Dp 3/3) = 20
• Permanent Teeth Dental Formula
2(I0/4; C0/0; P3/3; M3/3)= 32

17. Dentition

18. Dentition
- Courtesy Google

19. Forequarters
1
2
b
a
- Courtesy Google

20. Body
Loin area
Thigh
- Courtesy Google

21. 1 2
- Courtesy Google
- Courtesy Google

22. Hind quarters
- Courtesy Google

23. Goat fun facts
• Each kid has a unique call, and along with its scent, that
is how its mother recognizes it from birth – not by sight.
• It is unhealthy for a goat to be kept alone as they often
gets depressed.
• They have vision of 320-340 0 whereas humans 160-210 0
- Courtesy Google- Courtesy Google

24. Body conformation score

25. Strength

26. Angularity, cleanliness

27. Rump angle

28. Rump width

29. Fore udder attachment

30. Rear udder height & arch

31. Medial suspensory ligament

32. Teat placement, diameter

33. Final score
• Assigning a score of poor (P), fair (F), Acceptable (A),
good plus (+), very good (V) or excellent (E)
– Excellent (E) : 90 and above
– Very good (V) : 85-89
– Good plus (+) : 80-84
– Acceptable (A) : 70-79
– Fair (F) : 60-69
– Poor (P) : below 60

34. Conclusion
• Several steps for selection of goats
• Depends on production and marketing goals
• For meat production, goats must have a lengthy body,
muscling characteristics etc
• For dairy, does must have a good udder development, teat
length & diameter etc.

35. Take home message
Careful selection of breeding stock can enhance
milk production, carcass merit and the market value of
offspring.

36. THANKS
FOR
ATTENTION

37. References
• ADGA, America